Biographies for candidates in the current GPPA election are listed below as they are received.
Not all candidates have submitted biographies. Inclusion on this page does not indicate endorsement and does not affect ballot eligibility.
Colleen Schmotzer
Allegheny County
Nominated For: Co-Chair; Steering Committee At-Large; GPPA Core Team
Background, Experience, Skills
Served on the Steering Committee as an At-Large Member for the past year. Leadership experience with the Abandon Biden Campaign as co-chair. Strong organizational and communication skills. I am also a National Delegate for Green Party US.
Candidate Statement
"I’m committed to the growth of our party and believe in collaborative teamwork. My experience in leadership, combined with my attention to detail, will allow me to effectively contribute to the team. I am looking forward to being able to serve and working with everyone."
Gabe Lytle
Armstrong County
Nominated For: GPUS Alternate Delegate
Background, Experience, Skills
I’ve been affiliated with GPPA for the last decade.
Ran for State Rep. in 2016 as a Green.
Won Judge of Elections race last year as a Green.
Current Armstrong County Delegate to GPPA.
Candidate Statement
"I believe I would make a good choice as GPUS Alternate Delegate because of my experiences and relationships within GPPA. I have been building knowledge and community across the state for ten years. I feel I have a great idea of how to represent the members of our state on the National level and will work collectively with other delegates to make the correct choices to grow the party."
Abi Hunter
Allegheny County
Nominated For: GPUS Delegate
Background, Experience, Skills
BA Linguistics, University of Chicago – 2019
MS Computer Science, University of Chicago – 2019
Job Experience
Software Engineer – 2019–present
Volunteer Positions
Secretary, GPOAC – 2023
Vice Chair, GPOAC – 2025
Webmaster, Theron for Allegheny – 2025
Candidate Statement
"Abi Hunter has been an active member of the Green Party of Allegheny County since 2022. She has served as Secretary and Vice Chair for her county party, and has worked on party organization and tech integration. Abi was the webmaster for Theron Gilliland’s 2025 campaign for County Council. She has served as a national delegate since 2024."
Aiden Williamson
Philadelphia County
Nominated For: Steering Committee At-Large; GPUS Delegate
Background, Experience, Skills
I have served as state delegate for Philadelphia County and been on the City Committee for the Green Party of Philadelphia over the past year. I’ve also served on the National Committee for Solidarity, a socialist organization based here in the US, and was co-convenor of my campus’ socialist and anti-death penalty groups in college.
Candidate Statement
"My experiences in the Green Party over the past year and in other organizations as a leader make me significantly equipped to do the jobs that I’ve been nominated for. I also bring a lot of passion to the work. I have only been a Green Party member for about a year or so, but I’ve been voting Green since I started voting in the 1990s. My disgust with the Democrats over Gaza in particular but so many other things as well convinced me to change my registration. I am also more recently involved with Philly DSA and also more recently in efforts to keep my neighborhood fed alongside other mutual aid workers from groups like Food Not Bombs. I’m a very caring and compassionate person who brings 100% to what I do."
Dave Ochmanowicz Jr.
Bucks County
Nominated For: Steering Committee At-Large; GPUS Committees
Background, Experience, Skills
Previous GPPA Secretary and GPPA Steering Committee Member At-Large.
Long-time Merchandise Co-Chair for GPUS and GPPA Communications / GPUS Media Committee member.
Past elected School Board member and served as President for one of those years directly in my community.
Served as President, Vice President, and Treasurer of the Upper Bucks County Technical School (HS Vocational Tech institution).
Served on the Board of Trustees of the former Lotus School of Liberal Arts, a private high school serving holistic educational programs for students who benefited from individualized attention.
Candidate Statement
"I’m a proud Green for over two and a half decades because the Pillars and 10 Key Values closely mirror my personal spiritual beliefs and philosophy.
As an Eagle Scout and honorable Order of the Arrow member, my personal beliefs are easily reflected by the party values of our Green Party contingent here in the United States.
Honorable intentions, integrity, environmental wisdom, and justice, as well as stewardship of our land, air, and waterways, are instrumental in my personal philosophy. Leaving a path and past we should be proud of for our children and grandchildren is what we should be striving for. Greed and exploitation are inherently short-sighted and selfish acts of those with no honor.
I’d serve my time for the people of this party and our mutual goals of being the best people we can be in these darkest days of our lifetimes.
“Greens for good” has been my tagline for about a year now. I’d serve proudly with that in mind as a parent, leader, and committee member.
Working for a Greener Pennsylvania."
Chris Robinson
Philadelphia County
Nominated For: GPPA Communications Team (Co-Lead)
Background, Experience, Skills
I am Chris Robinson, a GPPA member since 2002. The first Green Party electoral campaign I worked on was Mike Morrill for PA Governor in 2002, where Mike received 38,423 votes (one percent). I have been an appointed co-leader of the Communications Team since 2020.
Candidate Statement
"I have answers if you have questions. Happy New Year of Struggle!"
Shelby Cunningham
Allegheny County
Nominated For: GPPA Core Team Leader
Background, Experience, Skills
I have been a state delegate from Allegheny County for the past year and registered Green since 2015.
Candidate Statement
"Hi everyone, and thanks to Timothy Runkle for reminding me to accept the nomination and introduce myself. I am Shelby Cunningham (she/her) from the Green Party of Allegheny County (GPOAC). I am running for the position of Core Team Leader. My other primary activities include volunteering with the Bloop Museum in Pittsburgh Hill District Cats."
Tristan Holland
Montgomery County
Nominated For: GPPA Core Team
Background, Experience, Skills
I joined the Green Party in May of 2025 and moved to Pennsylvania about a year ago.
Candidate Statement
"Hello everybody. I’m Tristan Holland from Montgomery County. I’ve nominated myself to be a leader of the Core Team. I’m hoping that, should I get appointed to the role, I can help improve party institutions and the means by which we integrate new members, while also gaining experience with the party and becoming familiar with its members. If you’d like to discuss anything with me, feel free to message me or send me an email."
Wendy Keslick
Chester County
Nominated For: Steering Committee At-Large; GPPA Finance Team
Background, Experience, Skills
I am working on bringing Chester County Greens back to life. This past year I served as Financial Co-Chair for GPPA. During the 2024 election I served as one of Butch Ware’s advisors and currently serve as one of his Core Team members and Volunteer Coordinator for Butch Ware for Gov 2026.
A couple of months ago I created the WARE Wellness Program that combines “Well Body, Well Mind, Well Spirit, Well Community.” Instead of extracting from volunteers and donors, we offer wellness classes, nature walks, book clubs, and online and in-person small-donation events. The small donations add up, reduce burnout, enhance wellbeing, and build community.
I also own a small wellness business grounded in collective liberation in West Chester. I have an amazing daughter who is disabled and whom I am a caregiver to, and two rescue dogs.
Candidate Statement
"I would love to bring similar creative fundraising ideas to Pennsylvania. BTW — I am loving learning about everyone in these posts!"
Barbara Laxon
McKean County
Nominated For: Steering Committee At-Large; GPPA Core Team
Background, Experience, Skills
I have been a Green since such a thing existed. I was initially with the Green Party of Broward County, FL. When I moved to PA in 2016, I joined the Green Party of PA. I am now chair of the Green Party of McKean County (recognised by the McKean County elections committee). I am a retired Occupational Therapist and a retired Physical Therapist Assistant. I have been a social and environmental activist since I was pregnant with my son 52 years ago.
I have been a Registered Green since such a thing existed. I was initially with the Green Party of Broward County, FL, from the early 90s. When I moved to PA in 2016, I joined the Green Party of PA. I am now chair of the Green Party of McKean County (recognized by the McKean County elections committee). I have twice been an At-Large delegate, and chair of Core and member of Communications. I am an active member of several environmental justice groups here in PA.
Candidate Statement
"I have been a Green since such a thing existed."
More info; https://www.gpofpa.org/why_im_green
Tony Dastra
Lancaster County
Nominated For: Steering Committee At-Large; GPPA GreenWave Team Lead
Background, Experience, Skills
I have run for local office a few times. Have functioned as the treasurer and chair of political action committees. I stay very involved and work in local government and I know how the system works. I'm committed to helping advise people toward achieving success in their own municipalities.
Candidate Statement
"Much of what people need in my opinion is one very motivated candidate, and one motivated paper worker so that a presence can be built. From there you're simply sustaining and working to build relationships for growth. Local races can be achievable for a small team in hyperlocal environments, such as borough wards or low population municipalities.
I live in a moderately sized at-large election City where there still aren't many Greens, so I know a thing or two about how hard it is to lose and continue pushing, but I have won one City wide nonpartisan race. The more of us just keep pushing long-term in our own communities, the more we legitimize each other's sacrifices towards political change in the eyes of voters."
Tim Butler
Dauphin County
Nominated For: GPPA Unorganized County Delegate (Dauphin)
Background, Experience, Skills
Tim Butler has over 10 years experience in political campaigns including campaign finance, campaign management, and political advising. He has been a winning candidate in three out of four local elections for Committeeperson and Delegate for Progressives in 2016 and 2020. In 2019, he was 4,500 votes short of being County Treasurer.
He is committed to the Green Party as an entity of unwavering to Political Reform, Public Funding of Elections, Universal Healthcare, Ecological restoration, and other policies.
Candidate Statement
"Asking for your support to help build the Green Party into a more formidable structure, non-beholden to corporate power."
Elizabeth Schongar
Allegheny County
Nominated For: GPUS Committees (Banking & Monetary Reform, Diversity, Platform), Steering Committee At-Large
Background, Experience, Skills
See candidates statement below.
Candidate Statement
"I have been an Allegheny County Green Party member since about 2018. When I learned about the four pillars and saw how they aligned with my values, I joined. I have served on the Allegheny County party as a delegate and helped with ballot access efforts. I’m interested in serving because I want to help strengthen our organization and contribute to the work needed to build an effective Green Party in Pennsylvania."
Sakira Harris
Philadelphia County
Nominated For: Steering Committee At-Large
Background, Experience, Skills
See candidate statement below.
Candidate Statement
"I’m Sakira Harris, a community educator and organizer committed to building inclusive, people-powered spaces across Pennsylvania. I’m passionate about strengthening our party infrastructure, supporting candidates, and growing our membership through relationship-building and meaningful outreach. I believe in the values we stand for—equity, community, and ecological responsibility."
Theron Gilliland, Jr.
Allegheny County
Nominated For: GreenWave Team Lead; GPUS Committees (Outreach Committee (OC); Platform Committee (Platcom)
Background, Experience, Skills
Theron (he/him) is a 46-year-old queer biomedical research scientist.
Candidate Statement
"As a radical social progressive, his activism currently focuses on racial justice, supporting police and prison abolition, opposing fascism, and fighting for protections for the transgender community.
Theron is involved with several groups in support of these values: Democratic Socialists of America; Pittsburgh DSA; and mutual aid networks. He believes these efforts align with the Green Party’s ideals of Grassroots Democracy.
In addition to his career-oriented and political interests, Theron enjoys reading and learning—especially about science, history, politics, and Near East history; and learning languages from around the world."
Lorianne Burgess
Beaver County
Nominated For: GPPA Unorganized County Delegate (Beaver); Steering Committee At-Large; GPPA Unorganized County Delegate; GPUS Delegate
Background, Experience, Skills
Hello, my name is Lorianne Burgess. I am a lifelong resident of Beaver County and I have been an active member of the Green Party since 2020. I am a widowed mother of two teenagers and the current owner of a fifth generation bakery in the borough of Ambridge. Community outreach is a big part of my life, and I enjoy planning free and beneficial events with my friends and neighbors. My experience with serving on committees and working synergistically with others spans my entire adult life. From the Ambridge Chamber of Commerce to Scouting America Troop 830/9830, the diversity of my experience is as great as my love for serving. Some of the causes that I support in my community are LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive rights, Medicare for all, ending genocide in Palestine and everywhere in the world, environmental consciousness, more free access to harm reduction services and support, equal rights for all People of Color and immigrants, and many more based on equality and sustainability.
Candidate Statement
"I really think we are in a time to recruit folks from bigger parties, to the Green Party. We need to reach out to people that feel like their core values aren’t being represented in government. Let’s show the state what we believe in and why they should join us!"
Jay Ting Walker
Allegheny County
Nominated For: GPUS Delegate; GPUS Committees (International Committee)
Background, Experience, Skills
See candidate statement below.
Candidate Statement
"By day, Jay Ting Walker (he/him) is a Community Organizer at a Pennsylvania environmental non-profit. By night, Jay is a musician and community builder in Pittsburgh. Jay serves as one of the Green Party of Pennsylvania’s delegates to the Green Party of the United States National Committee, and as Pennsylvania’s representative to the GPUS International Committee."
Adam Hansen
Lehigh County
Nominated For: GPPA Unorganized County Delegate (Lehigh); GPUS Committees (Eco-Action Committee)
Background, Experience, Skills
See candidate statement below.
Candidate Statement
"I have been delegate for Lehigh for about a year and am eager to represent the county as it becomes more organized"
Michael Bagdes-Canning
Butler County
Nominated For: GPPA Unorganized County Delegate (Butler)
Background, Experience, Skills
See candidate statement below.
Candidate Statement
"Michael Bagdes-Canning is, first and foremost, husband (Karen, 47 years), father, and grandfather.
He is a retired teacher; he spent 36 years in the classroom teaching reading to delinquent and dependent children.
He has a deep interest in civic life and believes strongly in fairness, honesty, and accountability in government.
He supports policies that protect working people and the environment and is committed to helping build the Green Party and encouraging local organizing and participation."